I don’t understand Chris Matthews
Chris Matthews keeps insisting that this stupid ad running in Tennessee is a racist ad. If I understand his argument it is this: the ad is racist because white guys in Tennessee are racist and they cannot help but get infuriated when they think of a white woman dating a black man. Maybe I am mischaracterizing his argument, but watch him make the argument below and see if you agree.
There is an argument to be made against this ad and it is this: it is tacky and unbecoming of an ideal political race. Ideally candidates would run ads about issues and they would dialogue with one another so that an educated public could make up their minds and cast their votes accordingly. But, I suppose, that is lala land.
The argument against this ad should not be that white guys in Tennessee are too stupid, bigoted and racist to handle this 30-second spot. That is insulting.
October 26th, 2006 at 6:37 pm
Matthews is a fool stuck in the 1960’s. I believe that it speaks to a certain kind of racism that Dems and their media accomplices feel that the image of a white woman being attracted to a black man is necessarily racist. Mixed race couples are common enough now that I doubt many folks care. Personally, I’ve long had a pet theory that the children of these unions may help wipe out whatever vestiges of racism remain. How can someone continue to hate a group of people that includes your adorable niece, nephew, cousin, grandchild, etc?
October 26th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
Frankly I’m getting tired of Repubs like you saying the ad is tacky. Its a great ad-its funny and it hits all of Ford’s weaknesses. Why weak kneed Repubs like you have to say its tacky is beyond me. I guess that’s what happens when you live in the beltway. Get over it Tim
October 27th, 2006 at 8:46 am
Fair enough Kate…and yes, it is quite possible that those of us stuck in the beltway bubble are extra sensitive — or extra wimpy depending on where you sit. My criticism of this ad was that it is “unbecoming of an ideal” campaign. But I fully recognize that the ideal campaigns of which I speak are sadly a thing of the past.
October 30th, 2006 at 11:24 am
It was a goofy ad. If Ford supports taking away gun rights, then there should have been some kind of subtitle or documentation when the hunter was shown. If Ford took money from pornographers, then there should have been some kind of subtitle or documentation when the pornography guy was shown. Et cetera, et cetera. And as far as the Playboy Bunny urging Ford to call her, of course it wasn’t racist — it was just meaningless without any subtitle or documentation, and the ad at least should have been limited to hours after 11PM.
I very much hope Corker wins, but he won’t if his campaign is perceived as being undignified. Kudos to Corker for criticizing this sleazy ad.